LATE-ORDER STAND JOLTS GLAM HOPES
GLAMORGAN let slip a commanding position on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship clash against Gloucestershire. The Welsh county had their hosts on the ropes early in their division two encounter in Cheltenham.
But Gloucestershire hit back as their tailenders launched a fierce counter-attack.
Glamorgan skipper Sam Northeast won the toss and his decision to put the home side in paid early dividends when Australian opener Cameron Bancroft edged behind to wicketkeeper Chris Cooke off Timm van der Gugten’s bowling off the second ball of the innings.
From there, wickets fell at regular intervals. The same van der GugtenCooke combination got rid of Ollie Price, and when Cooke took his third catch of the morning – this time to remove Ben Charlesworth off a Dan Douthwaite delivery – Gloucestershire were 36-3.
It got worse for the hosts.
Van der Gugten was very much in the groove, with Miles Hammond, Beau Webster and Matt Taylor all falling victim to him in an excellent spell which saw him return the figures of 5-59.
Andy Gorvin, Marnus Labuschagne and Douthwaite all got in on the act as the wickets kept tumbling and Gloucestershire were reduced to 104-9.
But then the home side hit back – and it came via a very familiar face to Glamorgan fans.
Marchant de Lange may have been batting at No. 10, but visiting players were well aware of his batting capabilities. It is he, after all, who blasted the fastest century in Glamorgan history four years ago when he hammered a 62-ball century against Northamptonshire.
And here, the Welsh side were on the receiving end. It wasn’t as bad as the caning he gave Northamptonshire’s bowlers, but it was a momentum-changer all the same.
De Lange struck four fours and two sixes on his way to an unbeaten 46 as he and last-wicket partner Ajeet Singh Dale shared a stand of 75 in little more than 12 overs.
It took leg spinner Mason Crane to end the partnership when he had Singh Dale could by Jamie McIlroy for 32.
The importance of the counter led by de Lange became evident when Glamorgan batted. They looked to have built a solid platform when they moved confidently to 57-1, but the dismissals of Billy Root and Labuschagne in quick succession put them on the back foot.
Kiran Carlson and Northeast helped them recover, but again they faltered. This time it was Webster who did the damage, capturing Northeast and Cooke within the space of three balls.
And Douthwait also departed to leave Glamorgan on 110-6 as close of play approached.